Psalms of Solomon 8

1Distress and the sound of war hath my ear heard; The sound of a trumpet announcing slaughter and calamity,

2The sound of much people as of an exceeding high wind, As a tempest with mighty fire sweeping through the Negeb.

3And I said in my heart; Surely God judgeth us;

4A sound I hear (moving) towards Jerusalem, the holy city.

5My loins were broken at what I heard, my knees tottered:

6My heart was afraid, my bones were dismayed like flax.

7I said: They establish their ways in righteousness. I thought upon the judgments of God since the creation of heaven and earth; I held God righteous in His judgments which have been from of old.

8God laid bare their sins in the full light of day; All the earth came to know the righteous judgments of God.

9In secret places underground their iniquities (were committed) to provoke (Him) to anger;

10They wrought confusion, son with mother and father with daughter;

11They committed adultery, every man with his neighbor's wife. They concluded covenants with one another with an oath touching these things;

12They plundered the sanctuary of God, as though there was no avenger.

13They trode the altar of the Lord, (coming straight) from all manner of uncleanness; And with menstrual blood they defiled the sacrifices, as (though these were) common flesh.

14They left no sin undone, wherein they surpassed not the heathen.

15Therefore God mingled for them a spirit of wandering; And gave them to drink a cup of undiluted wine, that they might become drunken.

16He brought him that is from the end of the earth, that smiteth mightily;

17He decreed war against Jerusalem, and against her land.

18The princes of the land went to meet him with joy: they said unto him: Blessed be thy way! Come ye, enter ye in with peace.

19They made the rough ways even, before his entering in; They opened the gates to Jerusalem, they crowned its walls.

20As a father (entereth) the house of his sons, (so) he entered (Jerusalem) in peace; He established his feet (there) in great safety.

21He captured her fortresses and the wall of Jerusalem;

22For God Himself led him in safety, while they wandered.

23He destroyed their princes and every one wise in counsel; He poured out the blood of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, like the water of uncleanness.

24He led away their sons and daughters, whom they had begotten in defilement.

25They did according to their uncleanness, even as their fathers (had done):

26They defiled Jerusalem and the things that had been hallowed to the name of God.

27(But) God hath shown Himself righteous in His judgments upon the nations of the earth;

28And the pious (servants) of God are like innocent lambs in their midst.

29Worthy to be praised is the Lord that judgeth the whole earth in His righteousness.

30Behold, now, O God, Thou hast shown us Thy judgment in Thy righteousness;

31Our eyes have seen Thy judgments, O God. We have justified Thy name that is honoured for ever;

32For Thou art the God of righteousness, judging Israel with chastening.

33Turn, O God, Thy mercy upon us, and have pity upon us;

34Gather together the dispersed of Israel, with mercy and goodness;

35For Thy faithfulness is with us. And (though) we have stiffened our neck, yet Thou art our chastener;

36Overlook us not, O our God, lest the nations swallow us up, as though there were none to deliver.

37But Thou art our God from the beginning, And upon Thee is our hope (set), O Lord;

38And we will not depart from Thee, For good are Thy judgments upon us.

39Ours and our children's be Thy good pleasure for ever; O Lord our Saviour, we shall never more be moved.

40The Lord is worthy to be praised for His judgments with the mouth of His pious ones; And blessed be Israel of the Lord for ever.